Mahdi Heidari, head of Iran’s Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance, said investment agencies could link investment opportunities in Iran with foreign investors by identifying potential investors, presenting projects, and following up on investment procedures.

Speaking at a meeting with managers of investment agencies, Heidari said greater private-sector involvement could help address shortcomings in the government’s existing investment structure and make attracting foreign capital more efficient.

Bridging the approval-to-inflow gap
Heidari identified the gap between investment approvals and actual capital entering the country as one of the main challenges facing foreign investment in Iran.

He said foreign investment approvals totaling about $17 billion were issued last year, while actual capital inflows stood at only around $1 billion.

Reducing this gap, he said, requires simpler procedures and fewer administrative barriers. Investment agencies can play a key role by presenting projects to potential investors, identifying suitable sources of capital and following investment applications through the implementation stage.

Heidari also clarified that an Iranian foreign-investment approval does not constitute a government guarantee of the investor’s principal or the profitability of a project. Rather, within the framework of applicable laws and regulations, the approval provides for the transfer of the investor’s principal and returns upon request.

70 applicants seek investment-agency licenses
The investment organization has received about 70 applications from entities seeking authorization to operate as investment agencies, Heidari said.

Of those applicants, documentation for around 35 has been completed, while licenses have so far been issued to 12 applicants.

He said the launch of the national licensing system would help make the authorization process more transparent and accelerate the issuance of investment-agency licenses.
Pipeline of 300 projects to be expanded to 800

Iran has also begun collecting and standardizing information on a pipeline of around 300 investment projects, with the aim of increasing the number to approximately 800, according to Heidari.

Standardized investment packages have been prepared for the projects, he said, adding that information on available opportunities will be published through the organization’s comprehensive investment opportunities and projects platform.

The organization has separately identified around 150 major projects with a combined estimated value of approximately $300 billion, Heidari said.

The projects span strategic sectors including oil and gas, mining, logistics, energy and technology.

20 strategic projects under special follow-up
Heidari said the organization is giving special attention to a portfolio of 20 strategic and high-impact projects with a combined value of around $110 billion under the organization’s “Plan 20.”

The Azadegan oil field is among the most important projects being followed, he said, noting that the project has entered the implementation phase after years of delays.

Financing of $2 billion from Iran’s National Development Fund for the project has also been approved, according to Heidari.

Other projects under follow-up include initiatives in the oil, gas and transport sectors, including the Abteymour oil project and the Bafq–Sangan railway project.

New financing tools under development
Iran is also pursuing new mechanisms to broaden financing options for investment projects.

Heidari said the initiatives include establishing the Mana foreign-currency fund in cooperation with Bank Mellat, launching a private investment fund and making use of financing instruments such as gold-based forward contracts.

The measures are intended to diversify funding sources and provide investors and project developers with additional financing options, he said.

AI to support investment services
Heidari also called for greater use of emerging technologies in the organization’s activities, saying artificial intelligence and advanced language models could help process information, present investment opportunities and improve services provided to investors.

He cautioned, however, that confidentiality and data-protection considerations must be taken into account when deploying such technologies.

Investment agencies, he said, should ultimately be capable of covering the entire investment cycle — from presenting an opportunity or project and identifying potential investors to establishing contacts and following up on the investment process.

Organization plans major structural expansion
Heidari said the Organization for Investment is also preparing a structural overhaul aimed at strengthening its capacity to facilitate investment.

Under the new structure, the organization’s human resources are expected to increase by about 2.5 times, he said.

Three key initiatives are currently being prepared for presentation and rollout: the licensing framework for investment agencies, the organization’s new structure, and a comprehensive digital platform covering investment opportunities and projects.

Heidari stressed that the government’s role should increasingly be that of an enabler rather than the sole driver of investment attraction.

By removing administrative barriers and creating a more conducive business environment, he said, the government can pave the way for greater participation by private companies and specialized investment agencies in attracting both domestic and foreign capital.